Person of interest sought in Milton double homicide

Santa Rosa County sheriff's deputies are working to find 41-year-old Derrick Ray Thompson in connection with the killing of a couple in Milton, a news release said

Santa Rosa County sheriff’s deputies are working to find 41-year-old Derrick Ray Thompson in connection with the killing of a couple in Milton, a news release said
(Photo:
Special to the News Journal
)

Santa Rosa County sheriff's deputies are working to find 41-year-old Derrick Ray Thompson in connection with the killing of a married couple in a prefabricated home in Milton on Sunday morning, according to a news release.

Deputies responded to a 911 call in the 6200 block of Goliath Road in Milton just before 9 a.m. Sunday.

When they arrived, deputies found two people, Steven Tyrone Zackowski, 60, and Debra Lynn Zackowski, 59, dead of gunshot wounds.

Deputies are seeking Thompson, who was last seen driving a silver 2012 Ford F-150 with a Auburn vanity plate on the front and license plate number K53-1UD in Bay County on Sunday morning, for questioning.

Thompson is wanted on burglary and grand theft charges, and is now considered a person of interest in the double homicide, the release said.

His current whereabouts are unknown.

Neighbors say law enforcement was called to the home where the killings took place on Saturday morning, and reported what sounded like gunshots about 8 a.m. Sunday.

"I came outside to smoke a cigarette and heard what sounded like firecrackers," Martha Rutherford said. "Probably two or three times."

Goliath road is a dead-end gravel road with a mix of constructed homes and so-called trailer homes.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office and Florida State Attorney's Office investigators worked behind yellow crime scene tape Sunday morning going in and out of the last trailer home on the street where the killings took place.

A young mother that lives on the street, Consetta Rutherford, said she was concerned for the safety of her three children.

"I asked the police if I need to take my kids to stay somewhere for a few days, but they said no," Rutherford said. "But I am concerned."

The investigators hadn't disclosed any perceived motive in the killings as of Sunday night.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to call Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at 437-STOP.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's and other law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. The house were the murder took place can be seen in the upper right-hand background of this photo. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Santa Rosa Sheriff's law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's and other law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's and other law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's and other law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. The house where the murder took place can be seen in the upper right-hand background of this photo. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Santa Rosa County Sheriff and other law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Rains moves through the area Sunday afternoon as Santa Rosa County Sheriff's and other law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's and other law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's and other law enforcement personnel were investigating the murders of two people on Goliath Road in Milton Sunday morning. The two victims were identified as Steven Zackowski, 60, and Debra Zackowski, 59. The investigation is ongoing and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers have not disclosed whether they have any leads or suspects at this time. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com